Thread changing apparatus for a shuttleless loom



Aprfl 25, 1967 w. SCHEFFEL 3,315,708.

THREAD CHANGING APPARATUS FOR A SHUTTLELESS LOOM Filed Jan. 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l I 11 M N i w. SCHEFFEL 3,315,708

THREAD CHANGING APPARATUS FOR A SHUTTLELESS LOOM A rifi 25,1967

Filed Jan 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: WALTER SCHEFFEL wad \ ATTORNEY.

April 25, 1967 SCHEFFEL 3,315,708

THREAD CHANGING APPARATUS FOR A SHUTTTJELESS LOOM Filed Jan. 21, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor:

WALTER SCHEFFEL ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,315,708 THREAD CHANGING APPARATUS FOR A SHUTTLELESS LOOM Walter Scheifel, 53 Industriestrasse, Weissenburg, Bavaria, Germany Filed Jan. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 426,953 11 Claims. (Cl. 139-122) The present invention relates to thread changing apparatus for a shuttleless loom.

When producing woven material on a shuttleless loom, it is possible to provide any number of different kinds of warp threads simply by setting up the loom in the corresponding manner. However, difficulties arise in providing different kinds of weft threads in the appropriate order during the weaving operation in a suttleless loom. The weft threads have'to be presented individually in the correct order to a point from which they can be picked into the warp threads. To this end it has been proposed to supply the weft threads to the point by means of guiding rods which are movable along radii of a circle centered at the point. (An example of such an arrangement is set forth in my copending application Ser. No. 426,891 filed Jan. 21, 1965.) Each guiding rod is provided with an eye through which a particular thread passes and the guiding rod can be moved so that the eye is presented at the picking point. The movement of such guiding rods is normally effected mechanically and has been controlled mechanically heretofore.

A mechanical arrangement for the control and actuation of the guide rods must be connected directly to such guide rods and consequently space must 'be provided for locating the mechanical arrangement and the connecting means near to the point or the connecting means must be long enough to permit a remote positioning of the mechanical arragnement. In this latter case, any slack in the connecting means is likely to cause faulty operation of the thread changing apparatus. The same fault will arise, if there is any Wear in the connecting means.

To obviate this, the present invention provides, with respect to a shuttleless loom wherein individual weftthreads are passed through eyes in guide rods whereby any selected thread can be moved to the said point by movement of the associated guide rod along a radius of a circle centred at the said point, apparatus controlling the movement of said guiding rods, which apparatus is electromagnetic in nature.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to several embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of the control apparatus for the thread changing mechanism in a loom capable of selecting any one in order out of sixteen weft-threads and delivering the selected thread to a point of the loom where it can be picked into the warp threads;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the positions of the switch contacts of the control apparatus of FIG. 1 for selecting a particular thread; I

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of certain parts of the thread feeding mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the drive and control mechanism of the thread feeding mechanism of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of parts of a variant form of thread feeding mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the drive and control mechanism of the thread feeding mechanism of FIG. 5.

Referring first to FIG. 2, it will be seen that it is possible to select any one of 16 items by means of a combination of four switches, each of which switches has two states. A similar selection of 2 items is possible with x switches, each of which swtiches has two states.

This concept provides the basis in an electromagnetic cont-r01 apparatus for selecting and actuating any one of a seires of sixteen shift magnets 1 through 16 to actuate the same in response to a combination of four factors, each of switches I through IV having two states.

Shift magnets 1 through 16 are electromagnets connected in parallel through a conductor 17 to a power source A. Conductor 17 includes a master switch 18 which serves to connect power source A to shift magnets 1 through 16 or to disconnect the power source from the shift magnets.

Another conductor 19 leads from power source A to contact 50 of a switch 35 controlled by a relay 20. Switch 35 has two output contacts 51, 52 and can make to either contact depending on the state of relay 20.

Output contact 51 is connected to a contact 53 of a switch 36 and output contact 52 is connected to a contact 54 of a switch 37. Switches 36 and 37 are ganged together and controlled by a relay 22. Each switch 36 and 37 has two output contacts 201, 202; 203, 204 respectively and can make connection with either of its respective contacts depending on the state of relay 22.

Each contact 201 through 204 is connected to an input contact 205 through 208 of switches 38 through 41 respectively and ganged together and controlled by a relay 23. Each switch 38 through 41 has two output contacts 209 through 216 respectively and can make connection with either of its respective contacts depending on the state of relay 23.

Each contact 209 through 216 is connected to a respective input contact 217 through 224 of switches 42 through 49, ganged together and controlled by a relay 24. Each switch 42 through 49 has two output contacts 225 through 240 respectively and can make connection with either of its respective contacts depending on the state of relay 24. 7

Each contact 225 through 2.40 is connected to a respective shaft magnet 1 through 16 so that, when master switch 18 is closed, a path is set up from power source A to one of the shift magnets 1 through 16 so as to energise the same. At the positions shown in FIG. 1 (if master switch 18 were closed), shift magnet 1 would be energised through switches 35, 36, 38 and 42, but if relays 20, 22 and 24 were energised, shift manget 13 would be energised through switches 35, 37, 41 and 48, and so on.

A second power source B is provided for energising relays 20, 22, 23 and 24 which are connected in parallel thereto by a conductor 25 and by a conductor 34 through respective switches I through IV and paired contacts 30, 26; 31, 27; 32, 28; and 33, 29. The switches I through IV are operable to energise the relays 20, 22, 23, and 24 by completing the circuit from second power source B t( those relays.

The operation of the switches I through IV is controlle by a pattern programme unit 241 which may be operable on a punched card system or from a conventional jacquard unit or dobby unit, when used in conjunction with a shuttleless loom. The switches I through IV are operated in combination to energise a selected one of the shift magnets 1 through 16 in a manner that can be seen from FIG. 2 wherein an X indicates that a switch I through IV is open and a dot indicates that the switch I through IV is closed, the shift magnets being indicated in the top row and the switches in the first column. For example, if switch I is closed and switches II through IV are open, shift magnet 9 is energised.

The master switch 18 is operated by a cam 242 which is driven in synchronism with the pattern programme unit 241 so that the master switch closes only when relays 20, 22, 23 and 24 have operated and is opened before relays 3 20, 22, 23 and 24 have released. 20, 22, 23 and 24 operate load free.

The linkage of such mechanism with a shuttleless loom is now described in connection first with FIGS. 3 and 4 and then with FIGS. 5 and 6.

In the case of FIGS. 3 and 4 and/ or 5 and 6, apparatus is shown for feeding a selected one of sixteen weft threads to a point from whence the particular thread can be carried into a shed formed in the warp threads provided in the usual manner in the loom. Inasmuch as shuttleless looms and picking mechanisms are well known, the point at which the weft is connected to the warp edge is shown schematically in FIGS. 4 and 6 at 243.

The apparatus, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises sixteen radial arms through '70 mounted on the loom about a centre defined by a point M. Each arm 55 through is mounted for independent movement along its respective radius in such manner that an eye 71 or 244 through 258 mounted on the inner end of each arm can be presented at point M. Each eye 71 and 244 through 258 is designed to receive an individual weft thread F (see FIG. 4) so as to present it at point M when the arms is selected.

In order that the moving mechanism for the arms may be explained clearly, one of the arms, now numbered 72, is isolated in FIG. 4 and carries its eye 71 at the end thereof.

Arm 72 passes through a double acting cylinder 74 and carries a piston 73 mounted within the cylinder. Two pressurised air supply pipes 75, 76 are connected to opposed ends of cylinder 74 and open onto a double acting valve 78. The valve space of valve 78 is connected by a pipe 265 to a reservoir 77 of air under pressure which is connected in turn to a compressed air line 266 and a gauge 267.

A valve spindle 268 of valve 78 is actuable by a shift magnet, which is of the kind shown in FIG. 1 and has been selected as shift magnet 16. When the shift magnet is unenergised, the valve is in the position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the air supply pipe 76 is supplied with pressurised air and arm 72 is maintained in the position shown. When the shift magnet 16 is energised, valve 78 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow C so that the air supply to air supply pipe 76 is removed and air is supplied to supply pipe to move arm 72 in the direction of the arrow D to the position shown in broken line in FIG. 4. This latter position of the arm 72 results in the thread F being presented at-the point M where it can be taken up by the picking element.

It is possible to use a spring to fulfill the function of the In this way, relays supply pipe 76 and the lower half of the cylinder 74, as

seen in FIG. 4.

The thread F is supplied from a bobbin 268 through a guide 269, a second guide 270 and a thread brake. The thread brake comprises a brake plate 82 mounted on a rod 83 passing through a cylinder 85. The rod is loaded by a spring 86 into its upper position and can be moved in the direction of the arrow B by admission of :air under pressure into the upper part of the cylinder and acting on a piston 84 mounted on the rod 83. The upper position of the brake plate 82 is marked S and is shown in full line, while its lower or inactive position is marked S and is shown in broken line.

The brake plate 82 cooperates with a brake lever 87 and the thread F passes between the brake plate 82 and the brake lever 87. The brake lever 82 is mounted on a pivot 88 and is loaded away from :a block 271 by a spring 89 hearing on the brake lever 87 and the block 271. The free end of the brake lever 87 carries an adjustable screw 90 which, in the lower position of the brake lever 87, connects with a step 91 on the block 271. The travel of the brake plate 82 is over a length L and the travel of the brake lever 87 is over a length H, L being greater than H by at least the diameter of the thread F. Thus, in the lower position of the thread brake, the thread F is free to pass between the brake plate 82 and the brake lever 87, while it cannot do so when the thread brake is in its upper position.

The spring 86 biases the thread brake into its upper or closed position while the movement of the thread brake to its lower or open position is effected by admitting compressed air from the reservoir 77 to the upper part of the cylinder 85 through a supply pipe 81. The supply pipe is normally closed by a valve 80 which can be opened by a shift magnet 79 which operates with shift magnet 16. It is preferable to wire shift magnet 79 in parallel with shift magnet 16 so that both are energised simultaneously by the circuit of FIG. 1.

Thus, it will be seen that a coded signal produced by the pattern programme unit, for example a signal calling for one line of red weft thread, is used by the control unit to energise the shift magnets 16 and 79 of the arm and eye holding red thread to free the red thread for picking and to move the eye and hence the red thread into the picking position at point M. In this way, coloured or otherwise patterned weave can be produced.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there will be seen another form of the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4.

As in FIGS. 3 and 4, there are provided sixteen radial arms 55 through 70 each provided with an eye 94 and 244 through 258' capable of being moved individually by means of respective ones of the shift magnets 1 through 16 of FIG. 1 to a position at which the eye is at the point M.

Again isolating a single arm now numbered 93 as illustrated in FIG. 6, it will be seen that the arm 93 is pivotally mounted at 92 at the end thereof remote from the eye now numbered 94. The arm 93 is loaded into the position shown in full line in FIG. 6 by a spring 97 attached to the arm and to a fixed part of the associated shift magnet here numbered 12. The shift magnet is conneoted to the arm by a rod attached to the arm at pivot 96. The shift magnet 12 serves to force the arm 93 in the direction of the arrow P when energised to the position shown in broken line in FIG. 6 where the eye 94 is at the picking position indicated at 94'. The thread F passes through the eye 94 and consequently is moved from the position shown in full line to the position shown in broken line. The thread is supplied from a bobbin 268, via a thread guide 269 and a further thread guide 270, in a plate 271. It then passes between a brake plate 100, which is a fixed surface of a shift magnet 98, and a brake arm 99 mounted about a pivot 101. The brake arm 99 is loaded away from the brake plate 100, by a spring 212 attached to the brake arm 99, and an angled plate 213. An abutment 104 extends from the angle plate 213 and serves to limit the movement of the brake arm 99 under the action of the spring 212 by contacting an adjustable screw 103 mounted on the free end of the brake arm 99. The movement of the brake arm 99 under the action of the spring 212 is in the direction of the arrow T, and energisation of the shift magnet 98 serves to attract the brake arm 99 onto the brake plate 100. Movemerit of the brake arm 99 in the direction of the arrow T frees the thread F and movement of the brake arm 99 in the reverse direction brakes the thread F.

The shift magnet 98 is energised when the shift magnet 12 is deenergized and it is preferable to connect the gig} shift magnets 12 and 98 in parallel in the circuit of The operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 5 and 6 is substantially equivalent to the operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4.

It will be appreciated that a coded signal of four reversible factors provided by the pattern programme unit 241 is used by the circuit of FIG. 1 to energise one of the shift magnets 1 through 16 and consequently, to move a chosen thread to the picking point in a free running condition, for example, by means of the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4 or FIGS. 5 and 6.

Since the control apparatus is electro-magnetic in operation, such apparatus need not be mounted close to the shift magnets and thread guide moving means and can be located remotely therefrom wherever there is space. Since there is virtually no mechanical linkage system, there are very few parts that are likely to become subject to wear. and this leads to a more dependable piece of apparatus.

It will be appreciated that it is possible to control the operation of 2 thread feeders from x switches or control factors. The switches or control factors are connected in series, each switch having twice the number of switching arms and output terminals than does the preceding switch.

The first switch has a single arm which is connected to a power source, which source can be used to energise shift magnet-s in a selectable manner by a combined operation of the switches.

The switches may be operated directly by a pattern programme unit, or may be individually operable by relays controlled by the pattern programme unit. The pattern programme unit can be operable on an individual unit controlled by punched cards or it can be a dobby unit or a jacquard unit. If relays are used to operate the switches, the control apparatus can be located remotely from the pattern programme unit, which is useful when it is formed by a dobby unit or a jacquard unit.

The shift magnets may act directly on the individual thread feeders or they may act by positioning control valves in an hydraulic operating system, In this latter case, it is preferable that the valves are double acting, and that the hydraulic system provides positive movement of the thread feeders, both towards and away from the picking point.

In summation, what is here involved is a thread selecting apparatus for a shuttleless weaving-machine with thread-feeders (weft guide arms) adjustable radially to and from the reception-point of a feed-element, characterized by the electro magnetic regulation of the shiftmovement of the thread-feeders.

For the regulation of 2 to the power of x thread-feeders, x number of switches, each with two switch-positions, are used, same having connecting-bridges from a lead-in contact in each terminal-position which are connectable to a lead-off contact, whereby each lead-off contact of a switch is connected respectively to a lead-in contact of a succeeding switch and the lead-off contacts of the nth switch are linked to the shift-magnets, with the result that the respective next switch possesses twice the number of connecting-bridges than the preceding switch.

The x number of switches are formed as relays, which are regulated from X number of selector switches.

The relays regulate the shift-magnets via a masterswitch, driven from the loom so that the relays always operate load free.

The switches or selector-switches are controllable from the weaving machine.

The shift-magnets serve for the opening or closing of valves for threadfeeders, which valves are actuated by a pressure-medium.

Each thread-feeder can be displaced through the means of a two-way piston, whereby regulation of the pressuremedium ensues via a double-acting valve.

The shift-magnets serve directly for the shifting of the thread-feeders in that, on being energized, they shift the thread-feeders in one direction, while a return-spring serves for the shifting in the other direction.

The alternating-apparatus comprises an electro-magnetically controllable brake.

I claim:

1. In a shuttleless loom including a picking means actuable to pick weft threads from a selecting point into warp threads located in the loom and a pattern programme means for controlling the weave pattern and being actuable to produce coded control signals via a certain number of two-state switches,

a weft selecting apparatus comprising,

a plurality of weft guide arm-s radially disposed relative to the selecting point,-

a thread holding eye mounted on each weft guide arm,

means mounting each weft guide arm for movement between a first position wherein the respective thread holding eye is located remote from the selecting point and a second position wherein the respective thread holding eye is located at the selecting point,

drive means for moving each said weft guide arm to its said second position,

return means for returning each said weft guide arm to its said first position,

a plurality of selector switches connected to the pattern programme means and being closable responsively to one state of an associated one of the switches and being releasable responsibly to the other state of the associated one of the switches,

a plurality of relays corresponding in number to the number of said selector switches and each being energizable on closing of an associated one of said selector switches and releasable on the releasing of the associated one of the said selector switches,

a plurality of arrays of contacts corresponding in number to the number of said selector switches and connected in cascade associated with said relays and closable when said relays are energized with 2 sets of contacts in the nth array where l n x,

2 shift magnets each being connected to one contact of a set of contacts of the xth array of contacts,

a power source connected to said first array of contacts,

said shift magnets being connected in parallel to said power source,

each said shift magnet being connected to said drive means and being actuable to move a corresponding one of said weft guide arms and initiating its movement to said second position when said shift magnet is energized.

2. In a thread selecting apparatus for a shutt-leless loom having picking means for picking selected weft threads from a point at which the weft threads are positioned to be picked into warp threads located in the loom with cooperant pattern programme means actuatable for controlling the loom weaving pattern by way of coded control signals generated according to a code form comprised of x factors of two states each,

the combination of,

2 thread guide arms radially disposed with respect to the point,

a thread holding eye mounted on each said thread guide arm,

means mounting each said thread guide arm for movements between a first position wherein the respective said thread holding eye is remote from the point and a second position wherein the thread holding eye is located at the point,

drive means actuable to move each said thread guide arm to its second position,

return means returning each said thread guide arm to its second position,

x selector two position switches connected to the pattern programme means and closable in response to one state of an associated one of the x factors and releasable in response to the other state of said associated one of the x factors,

x relays each energizable on closing of an associated one of the x switches and releasable on the releasing of the associated one of the x switches,

x arrays of contacts connected in cascade associated Y with said relays,

there being 2 sets of contacts in the nth array where 2 shift magnets,

each shift magnet being connected to one set of contacts of the xth array of contacts,

a power source connected to said first array of contacts,

said shift magnets being connected in parallel to said POWEI SOUI'CB,

each said shift magnet being connected to said drive means actuable to move a corresponding one of said thread guide arms and initiating the movement thereof to its said second position when said shift magnet is energized,

and thread brake means controlling the movement of the weft thread to each said thread holding eye and associated with said corresponding shift magnet freeing the Weft thread when said shift magnet is energized and braking the weft thread when said shift magnet is released.

3. In the thread selecting apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including,

.a master switch connected to said power source,

:said shift magnets being connected in parallel to said master switch,

drive lin-k means connecting said master switch to the loom for opening and closing said master switch in synchronism with the pattern programme means with said master switch closing after relay energization and opening before relay release so that said relays operate load free.

4. In the thread selecting apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including,

said drive means constituted by a piston mounted on said thread guide arm,

:a cylinder for the reciprocation of said piston therewithin,

:a compressed fluid source,

connecting means for connecting said source to said cylinder,

.and valve means in said connecting means connected .to the corresponding of said shift magnets for control thereby and actuable to open said connecting means for causing pressurized fluid to enter said cylinder to drive said piston and said thread guide arm towards the point.

5. In the thread selecting apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including,

said drive means comprising a piston mounted on said thread guide arm,

:a cylinder for the reciprocation of said piston therewithin,

:a compressed fluid source,

means connecting said source to said cylinder,

valve means in said connecting means connected to said corresponding shift magnet for control thereby :and actuable to open said connecting means causing pressurized fluid to enter said cylinder to drive said piston and said thread guide arm towards the point,

:and thread brake means controlling the movement of the weft thread to each said eye and actuable by said corresponding shift magnet to free the weft thread when said shift magnet is energized and to brake the Weft thread when said shift magnet is released.

6. In the thread selecting apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including,

said drive means comprising a double acting piston mounted on said thread guide arm,

a cylinder mounting said piston for reciprocation therewithin,

a compressed fluid source,

means connecting said source to said cylinder,

double acting valve means in said connecting means connected to said corresponding shift magnet for control thereby and actuable by the energized shift magnet to open said connecting means for the entry of pressurized fluid to said cylinder for driving said piston and said thread guide arm towards the point and actuable by the released said shift magnet to open said connecting means for the entry of pressurized fluid to said cylinder for driving said piston and said thread guide arm away from the point.

7. In the thread selecting device as set forth in claim 2, including,

said drive means comprising a double acting piston mounted on said thread guide arm,

a cylinder mounted for the reciprocation of said piston,

a compressed fluid source,

means connecting said compressed fluid source to said cylinder,

double acting valve means in said connecting means and connected to the corresponding of said shift magnets for control thereby and being actuable by the energized shift magnet for opening said connecting means causing pressurized fluid to enter said cylinder to drive said piston and said thread guide arm towards the point and being actuable by the released shift magnet for opening said connecting means causing pressurized fluid to enter said cylinder to drive said piston and said thread guide arm away from the point,

and thread brake means controlling the movement of the weft thread to each said eye and associated with said corresponding shift magnet freeing the weft thread when said shift magnet is energized and brakin g the weft thread when said shift magnet is released.

8. In the thread selecting apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including,

a master switch connected to said power source,

said power source being connected to the first array of contacts,

said shift magnets being connected in parallel to said master switch,

drive link means connecting said master switch to the loom to open and close said master switch in synchronism with the pattern programme means,

said master switch closing after said relays are energized and opening before said relays are released so that said relays operate load free,

each said shift magnet being connected to said drive means and actuable to move a corresponding one of said thread guide arms and initiating the movement thereof to its second position when said shift magnet is energized,

said drive means comprising a double acting piston mounted on said thread guide arm,

a cylinder mounted for the reciprocation of said piston therewithin,

a compressed fluid source,

means connecting said compressed fluid source to said cylinder,

double acting valve means in said connecting means connected to said corresponding shift magnet for control thereby and actuable by the energized shift magnet to open said connecting means for the entry of pressurized fluid to said cylinder to drive said piston and said thread guide arm towards the point and actuable by the released shift magnet to open said connecting means for the entry of pressurized fluid to said cylinder to drive said piston and said thread guide arm away from the point.

9. In the thread selecting apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including,

a master switch connected to said power source,

said power source being connected to the first array of contacts,

said shift magnets being connected in parallel to said master switch,

drive link means connecting said master switch to the loom to open and close said master switch in synchronism with the pattern programme means,

said master switch closing after said relays are energized and opening before said relays are released for load free operation of said relays,

each said shift magnet being connected to said drive means and actuable to move a corresponding one of said thread guide arms and initiating the movement thereof to its second position when said shift magnet is energized,

said drive means comprising a double acting piston mounted on said thread guide arm,

a cylinder for the reciprocation of said piston therewithin,

a compressed fluid source,

means connecting said compressed fluid source to said cylinder,

double acting valve means in said connecting means connected to said corresponding shift magnet for control thereby and actuable by the energized shift magnet to open said connecting means causing pressurized fluid to enter said cylinder to drive said piston and said thread guide arm towards the point and actuable by the released shift magnet to open said connecting means causing pressurized fluid to enter said cylinder to drive said piston and said thread guide arm away from the point,

and thread brake means controlling the movement of the weft thread to each said eye and associated With said corresponding shift magnet freeing the weft thread when said shift magnet is energized and braking the weft thread when said shift magnet is released.

10. In the thread selecting apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including,

a master switch connected to said power source,

said power source being connected to the first array of contacts,

said shift magnets being connected in parallel to said master switch,

drive link means connecting said master switch to the loom to open and close said master switch in synchronism with the pattern programme means,

said master switch closing after said relays are energized and opening before said relays are released for the load free operation of said relays,

each said shift magnet being connected to said drive means and actuable to move a corresponding one of said thread guide arms and initiating the movement thereof to its second position when said shift magnet is energized,

said drive means comprising a piston mounted on said thread guide arm,

a cylinder mounted for the reciprocation of said piston therewithin,

a compressed fluid source,

means connecting said compressed fluid source to said cylinder,

valve means in said connecting means connected to said corresponding shift magnet for control thereby and actuable to open said connecting means causing pressurized fluid to enter said cylinder to drive said piston and said thread guide arm towards the point,

and thread brake means controlling the movement of weft thread to each said eye and actuable by said corresponding shift magnet to free the weft thread when said shift magnet is energized and to brake the Weft thread when said shift magnet is released.

11. In the thread selecting apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including,

a master switch connected to said power source,

said power source being connected to the first array of contacts,

said shift magnets being connected in parallel to said master switch,

drive link means connecting said master switch to the loom to open and close said master switch in synchronism with the pattern programme means,

said master switch closing after said relays are energized and opening before said relays are released so that said relays operate load free,

each said shift magnet being connected to said drive means actuable to move a corresponding one of said thread guide arms and initiating the movement thereof to its second position when said shift magnet is energized,

said drive means comprising a piston mounted on said thread guide arm and a cylinder for the reciprocation of said piston therewithin and a compressed fluid source and means connecting said compressed fluid source to said cylinder and a valve means in said connecting means connected to said corresponding shift magnet for control thereby and actuable to open said connecting means causing pressurized fluid to enter said cylinder to drive said piston and said thread guide arm towards the point.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,474,416 11/1923 Hathaway 139--122 2,429,394 10/ 1947 Clairmont 139122 2,814,315 11/1957 Lyle et a1. 139122 H. S. JAUDON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A SHUTTLELESS LOOM INCLUDING A PICKING MEANS ACTUABLE TO PICK WEFT THREADS FROM A SELECTING POINT INTO WARP THREADS LOCATED IN THE LOOM AND A PATTERN PROGRAMME MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE WEAVE PATTERN AND BEING ACTUABLE TO PRODUCE CODED CONTROL SIGNALS VIA A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TWO-STATE SWITCHES, A WEFT SELECTING APPARATUS COMPRISING, A PLURALITY OF WEFT GUIDE ARMS RADIALLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO THE SELECTING POINT, A THREAD HOLDING EYE MOUNTED ON EACH WEFT GUIDE ARM, MEANS MOUNTING EACH WEFT GUIDE ARM FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN THE RESPECTIVE THREAD HOLDING EYE IS LOCATED REMOTE FROM THE SELECTING POINT AND A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN THE RESPECTIVE THREAD HOLDING EYE IS LOCATED AT THE SELECTING POINT, DRIVE MEANS FOR MOVING EACH SAID WEFT GUIDE ARM TO ITS SAID SECOND POSITION, RETURN MEANS FOR RETURNING EACH SAID WEFT GUIDE ARM TO ITS SAID FIRST POSITION, A PLURALITY OF SELECTOR SWITCHES CONNECTED TO THE PATTERN PROGRAMME MEANS AND BEING CLOSABLE RESPONSIVELY TO ONE STATE OF AN ASSOCIATED ONE OF THE SWITCHES AND BEING RELEASABLE REPONSIBLY TO THE OTHER STATE OF THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF THE SWITCHES, A PLURALITY OF RELAYS CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER TO THE NUMBER OF SAID SELECTOR SWITCHES AND EACH BEING ENERGIZABLE ON CLOSING OF AN ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID SELECTOR SWITCHES AND RELEASABLE ON THE RELEASING OF THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF THE SAID SELECTOR SWITCHES, A PLURALITY OF ARRAYS OF CONTACTS CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER TO THE NUMBER OF SAID SELECTOR SWITCHES AND CONNECTED IN CASCADE ASSOCIATED WITH SAID RELAYS AND CLOSABLE WHEN SAID RELAYS ARE ENERGIZED WITH 2N SETS OF CONTACTS IN THE NTH ARRAY WHERE 1<N<X, 2X SHIFT MAGNETS EACH BEING CONNECTED TO ONE CONTACT OF A SET OF CONTACTS OF THE XTH ARRAY OF CONTACTS, A POWER SOURCE CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST ARRAY OF CONTACTS, SAID SHIFT MAGNETS BEING CONNECTED IN PARALLEL TO SAID POWER SOURCE, EACH SAID SHIFT MAGNET BEING CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVE MEANS AND BEING ACTUABEL TO MOVE A CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID WEFT GUIDE ARMS AND INITIATING ITS MOVEMENT TO SAID SECOND POSITION WHEN SAID SHIFT MAGNET IS ENERGIZED. 